The Phoenix Business Journal is a weekly publication and is considered the best source for business-related news in the valley. On the other hand, their website is updated hourly throughout the day with local news.

The media outlet was founded in 1980 and was acquired five years later by the American City Business Journals. Specifically geared towards business owners, they have grown to a readership of 60,000 as of date.

Browsing through their website, their topics are categorized by the type of industry like healthcare, real estate, and technology. They also have a data center that ranks local businesses and leaders, which is useful in analytics.

The only drawback is that their articles are not readily accessible online, except through a paid subscription. While there are different packages, these cost more than the normal newspaper starting at $4 per week.

To their credit, they have a short preview of the introduction paragraph in written and recorded form, which is something we don’t see often. We think other news outlets can adapt pre-recordings as a step toward accessibility and convenience.

Besides online and print media, they’re also known to reach the public through events hosted throughout the year. Among their signatures are the Outstanding Women in Business and the 40 Under 40 networking event.

If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, we think they’re a good investment for what they have to offer.

The Arizona Republic is considered the state’s major news outlet, consistently having the highest print circulation since 1915. It’s also the only known newspaper that publishes daily on both traditional and digital media.

Since its acquisition by the Gannett Company Inc. in 2000, the 135-year-old company was brought under the same ownership as the USA Today Network. Their affiliate website, Azcentral, is also the leading online news outlet in the valley.

Right off the bat, the newspaper commits itself to inclusivity and diversity through material and workforce, which we like. This is reflected through annually published snapshots that assess the racial and gender balance among their staff.

When it comes to material, they have sections from lifestyle to politics – all further broken down into specific topics. These are usually well-written based on what we’ve read so far and it’s fairly easy to navigate across different tabs.

They’re also not exempt from regularly updated travel and lifestyle news featured as listicles, things to do, and detailed reviews. We think these serve as a reliable launchpad for those visiting the state.

However, we’ve heard more than a handful of complaints about the confusing subscription process. Customers have a hard time refunding surcharges even after canceling, which could be frustrating.

We hope they could develop a better system and improve customer service to maintain their readership. After all, being committed to the community doesn’t stop in the newsroom.

Founded in 1970, the Phoenix New Times has established itself as one of the most trusted and relevant newspaper publications in the valley. 

With over 1 million digital consumers per month and 100,000 print readers per week, the news company prides itself as a go-to not just for local news but also as a tool for capturing Phoenix’s cultural heartbeat.

Generally, the website is free, relying on voluntary financial support from members and advertising. This allows them to publish high-quality writing without the need for a paywall.

To show their commitment to local culture, they annually publish their Top 100 Restaurants and Top 100 Bars lists that are essential guides for both locals and visitors. 

Aside from covering current events, the paper is also known for delivering news on the arts, local music, and what we think is one of the paper’s unique characteristics: covering stories about Phoenix’s rising cannabis industry.

Though news about cannabis may attract a wide readership, we think that this may not appeal to readers who are not interested in the topic.

Moreover, because cannabis is still not universally legalized in the US, their content may not be patronized by readers who do not hold the same political views.

On a positive note, the company claims they’re fully independent. Hence, having risky material proves it doesn’t have to play safe for it to appeal to a wider audience.

The Arizona Capitol Times is the only news company that focuses on policy issues involving state agencies, local government offices, as well as businesses. In other words, they serve as the liaison between the local community and the state.

Publications are issued weekly, with an average of 12,000 readers for every online release. They also offer free email newsletters, to which they have garnered 14,000 subscribers as of speaking.

With over a century of engaging in Arizona’s political landscape, the newspaper has developed unmatched access to reliable sources and produces well-written content. 

It’s worth noting that they’re also non-partisan and are stationed just across the statehouse, which allows them to publish updates daily. This also captivates a wider audience of varying political beliefs.

While they cover local and national political news, their content also comprises letters to the editor, public notices, commentaries, and even an online store where you can purchase their published materials. 

Among these is The Yellow Sheet Report, a political tip sheet that gives readers an inside scoop on the Capitol. 

You can also access the online bill tracking system through the Legislation On Line Arizona (LOLA), which is useful for lawyers, lobbyists, non-profits, and the like. We like that they take all the steps in making information available to the public.

The only gripe we have with this publication is that they don’t offer weekly subscription packages, which might be a dealbreaker for some readers.

The East Valley Tribune is a weekly tabloid newspaper that serves the eastern cities of metro Phoenix, namely: Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Queen Creek, and Gilbert. 

The newspaper has quite a long history of being passed down from one company to another, starting in 1891. It also started with daily publications but has scaled down progressively over the years to Sunday releases.

Long story short, the newspaper is a culmination of various local papers from all over the East Valley after their acquisition by The Cox Enterprises. 

Today, they boast a weekly 400,000 readerships and 140,000 circulation copies. This comes as no surprise because 85% are delivered straight to homes, which is extensive.

Their main website doesn’t immediately display its coverage but instead features tabs that redirect the user to another website, which corresponds to a particular city. Although each site is distinct, the format and sections are consistent all across.

However, we found the ads a bit distracting but this doesn’t take away from the quality of their content. 

We like that each site has a special focus on the local culture unique to the locale, not to mention it gives way to more accurate and on-the-ground news. Lifestyle reviews and listicles are also more reliable from what we’ve heard.

Unless you’re not from the area, they’re the best resource for city-wide news and stories based on lifestyle and culture.